“What the hell?”
I go to pass them when David grabs my arm. “I’ll take you.”
I rip my arm away and stumble into another table. “Fuck you” and “Get your ass out of my face” fill my ears. I smile. This is more like it—this is exactly what I need. I hope someone starts something with me—I would love to beat someone up.
“Christ. I’m just getting back and he’s still like this?” Jason slinks into my spot in the booth. Tammy’s eyes get huge as she slithers up to him along with the brunette.
“I’ve got to go.” This time no one stops me as I stumble around the dark club and throw open the door. The night air makes my fuzzy brain start to work. Grabbing my phone, I call her.
Of course, it goes straight to voice mail. “Fuck.” I start to pace in circles. I’m so sick of not having anything. I’m lucky I have a phone. It’s only because my dad’s last girlfriend left hers behind and I’ve been using it wondering when she’s going to turn it off. Or maybe she knows and feels bad for me and she’s leaving it on. She was one of the better ones, so of course she didn’t last. My dad’s abusive nature makes even the loneliest decide they need to move on.
“Edge, get the fuck in.” David pulls up next to me in a new Tahoe.
“Fuck off, I don’t need your pity,” I grumble at him as I start to walk.
He revs the engine then lays on the horn.
“Fucking, David,” I mumble, shaking my head. Then again, I’m being a dick to a friend who is willing to take me to her, so I get in and slam the door.
“You can stop with the horn.”
He snickers and peels out of the crowded parking lot.
“You’ve got to pull your shit together better.”
I don’t respond and stare at the passing streetlights.
“Edge? You okay?” His voice is sincere and I sigh as I turn my head. David and I are a year apart and he’s like a brother.
“I… I fucked up. And Dolly is with that prick Troy and I don’t care if she’s with a group. I don’t care that we’re not together.” I take a breath as I unclench my fists. “She’s mine and I need to get her back.” My voice cracks at the end. Maybe all the drugs and booze are making me hallucinate because right now, my rage is like a wild beast.
“If that piece of shit has touched her…”
David remains silent and keeps driving, but he starts to go faster as he weaves around other cars.
“Let me handle this.” He lights up a cigarette and I almost laugh. I’m the little brother, always the youngest, always the pity case. No matter what I do, I’m always just Fuse’s kid.
“No.”
“Edge, I have experience—”
“This is my girl. I can handle it. Don’t try to stop me.” I’m out of breath. The closer we get, the more the colors outside blur into bright rainbow lights.
“Okay.” David looks at me and then at the road.DOLLY
Seventeen years old“Give me the bottle,” I demand as I pour myself a 7 Up in a plastic cup and look around the gym at all my classmates.
“You want peppermint or cinnamon schnapps?” Morgan pulls out a bottle from her large, sequined bag and looks at me. She’s standing but not well. We got ready at her house. My other crappy friends and I sat and pretended we like each other. We straightened one another’s hair. Put on fake eyelashes. We even applied each other’s makeup, all the while wondering who is going to be the biggest rat tonight.
“Peppermint,” I snap, and she laughs. It’s come to that. She’s tall and thin in a black slip dress and I’m short and wearing a red slip dress. We both look as good as we possibly can. And we both hate each other, but I have to keep her by my side or put up with Troy and his stupid friends.
So, I smile and take the bottle. I need her.
“How much longer?”
“They should be crowning you and Troy so—”
“Hey, Doll baby.”
I swirl around in time to avoid Troy slapping my ass.
“Don’t call me that.” I don’t try to even sound nice. He’s never allowed to call me that. And after tonight, I need to pull back. I’ve been leading him on in hopes it would upset Edge. But fucking Edge hasn’t even been to school since I left him at my locker.
“What is wrong with you tonight? Did you get your period or something?” My face turns red as Morgan, Christy, and Devin start to howl. Like for real. They howl as if they’re wolves or coyotes.
“Is that why you’re in red?” He snickers as if he’s so clever. His obnoxious cologne fills the corner I’m in.